Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-05-10
WOMEN IN Arr.

Gratifying Progress Now Ijeing Made
BY the Fair sex IN tho World of
Art.
The pet theory INDUCED by so many I
Of the lords Of creation bs to the in
feriority of the fiber OF wonian's brain.
seems to have been thoroughly ex-
ploded. saws writer in The I9titadsf-
phie Record. By the way in which she \
mastered the abstruse arts aud sciences |
when once she had the chance When
the history Of the present century shall |
come to be written the advancement
made by women as regards education,
both social and professional, will be
one Of the most conspicuous incidents
recorded. This advancement is ccn-
ceicd as phenomenal, even by those
who never doubted woman's mental
capacity, and the inferior brain-i
fanatics are fairly put to rout. They,
however, find some small consolation
in pertinaciously clinging to the state
ment that we have no great female
musicians, and that the women artists
have in the past gained fame solely
from their scarcity. They forget that
even so late as fifty years ago the sys-
tematic training of women in music
and art was thing almost unknown
1t is true that women of even a remote
day learned little music as polite
! accomplishment, but the thorough
| training tending to develope talent to
the utmost was unheard Of, while an
art schoo. for women did not exist,
and the list Of artists of that day re-
presents merely isolated instances of
such instruction. That anyone of them
succeeded in winning name is marvel
Gus. considering the difficulties with
which they were hedgcd about.
But the time for a change had come.
and about twenty-five years ago the
Royal Academy of Arts. which had
been established hundred years or SO
for men, realized that the benefit of its
!. system of instruction should extend TO
both sexes. Female students were soon
after admitted to its schools, with most
satisfactory results. Gradually the
movement gained ground, and at the
present time woman may pursue her
art studies with almost as much free
iom as may her brother. This is as it
/ should be- Women have an innate love
+ for the beautiful, an eye for color, and
rare taste in decoration Their dress
) and surroundings attest the fact Il is,
i 90, an open question whether they are
t not gifted with as much imagination as
the other sex, if not more, and this,
7 coupled with native talent for color and
an overflow of sentiment. points to
+ their ultimate success in the world of
, art.
/, Granted the ability to learn and the
, opportunity for learning. the battle il
t but just begun. The requirement OF
all we know is mainly matter of train
: ing and instruction. The elementary
knowledge Is quite rs important as the
/ most abstruse principles of compost
: ton and design. or OF the effect of iigh
# and shade. And just here is where
: most women make their mistake. They
20 about their work in an amatuerisl
| " dl anu itf Cl 1911 HttNto " stNfOlI Hil5i
,, something that will show. Thorough
ness is lost sight Of and God givei
talents are frittered away. They pain
and etch and model and design. arr
; fired with high enthusiasm. bat fai
ii short of greatness in generality tina
|: almost make us doubt if the divine af
Y Hiatus has yet been bestowed upon tn
/ last work of creation. And yet we hav
- Rosa Bouheur and Harriet Hosmc
Y and few other representative womel
/ to attest to women's power to do wha
c she will in art as in other things. Blu
N it is safe to say that these women aim
lie ed at thoroughness in the start, an
# had determination enough to stick t
:. their purpose Without this will an
i. spirit no great results can be attaine,
in in any aim OF life.
If do not wish to he understood us dep
lie recating the tendency of the time L
N amateur art. 1t is II fascinating pursu
o and everyone of cultured mind or re
e tinement naturally desires some degre
Of Of acqua ntance with that which tend
n to bring beauty and brightness int
t everyday life. And who shall say th.
is in this line women are not rich con
lie tributors? They form the mass {
10 workers in the art schools, and ar
at bountiful in the work that adorn on
his homes aud make life worth living. An
be it is they who have nursed and ker
h. alive the splendid enthusiasm wk;c
III finds expression in every form of d.
@. | corative work. Let them keep on i
I'd their good work (for it is good. Il
ne matter how hcking in the principles c
n arD and labor according to their light
~ They may not achieve fame. but the
in will give Joy to the home circle, an
IL refine and lift it up, which is Il dea
an satisfaction to the heart thar beats
Inf the right place. But even to thos
I'M home-workcrs the advice of thorough
TT. ness holds good. To keep resolutel
nd to the study of the dry and rudimel
mt tary knowledge of anatomy, perspe'
ny tive, and the principles of design is til
We sure way to make the most of limite
AZ opportunities. The habit of observ;
be- ton is another great help, and calls fl
i'm no special time or opportunity. III